Protecting the Perimeter: Your Ultimate Guide to Cybersecurity for Physical Security Systems in 2026

Bruce Nguyen

1 hour ago

The specter of cybercrime looms larger than ever, poised to inflict a staggering US$10.5 trillion upon the global economy this year. In this volatile landscape, connected edge devices – from surveillance cameras to access control points and IoT gateways – have emerged as prime targets for malicious actors seeking illicit entry into organizational networks. This escalating threat demands immediate and comprehensive action.

For physical security teams, the stakes have never been higher. They are tasked with safeguarding increasingly vast infrastructures of interconnected security and IoT devices, each representing a potential vulnerability. The growing adoption of hybrid infrastructures, where individual devices connect to cloud servers, further complicates matters, exposing systems at both the edge and cloud levels. In this intricate web of threats, fragmented, piecemeal responses are simply inadequate.

To navigate this complex environment, asmag.com presents this essential resource guide. Drawing from our extensive coverage of exclusive articles and vital supplier insights, we aim to deepen your understanding of cybersecurity for video security, access control, and related domains such as smart buildings and the broader IoT ecosystem.

What Is cybersecurity in the context of physical security systems?
Regulatory regimens and certification
Cybersecurity for cloud devices
Verticals and their cybersecurity needs
Threat scenarios and assessment

1. What is cybersecurity in the context of physical security systems?

Cybersecurity, alongside compliance with crucial regulations like the NDAA in the US, has moved to the forefront of procurement discussions. Users, increasingly influenced by the jurisdictions in which they operate, now commonly demand:

Robust encryption for footage and metadata, especially when linked to personal or user data.
Secure and reliable firmware update mechanisms.
Comprehensive API security to prevent unauthorized access.
Clear data sovereignty and lifecycle management protocols.

This shift means integrators must embed cybersecurity considerations from the initial design phase, meticulously tailoring solutions to the unique requirements of each vertical, particularly highly regulated sectors such as critical infrastructure or finance. A persistent challenge remains the asymmetric pace between attackers and defenders; cybercriminals, increasingly leveraging AI, often innovate faster, developing new threats as organizations strive to design new defenses.

The future of cybersecurity for physical security systems likely lies in dismantling the silos between edge and cloud security. This involves embracing platform-based, integrated, and collaborative approaches that offer a unified defense strategy.

2. Regulatory regimens and certification

Over recent years, major industry players have significantly elevated cybersecurity thresholds for physical security systems globally. In the United States, the NDAA dictates which brands can be deployed within security infrastructures, while the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and FIPS standards establish critical on-the-ground rules. Similarly, the European Union has implemented a suite of regulations, from the NIS2 Directive to the EU Cybersecurity Act, supplemented by additional legislation at national levels.

While regulations originating in the US and EU exert substantial influence on security providers worldwide due to the size of their markets, other nations are also spearheading ambitious cybersecurity frameworks. Notable examples include India with its STQC, Vietnam with the QCVN 135:2024/BTTTT, and Singapore with its updated Cybersecurity Act.

Concurrently, industry specifications like ONVIF Profiles B, T, M, and D provide crucial guidelines that promote secure communication and seamless interoperability among IP-based physical security devices. Among the most widely adopted standards, ISO 27001 offers a comprehensive framework for information security management systems and organizational controls, bolstering trust and reliability.

3. Cybersecurity for cloud devices

The widespread adoption of Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS) and cloud analytics has fundamentally transformed security systems. No longer are they isolated, closed infrastructures that can be simply “sealed off” from external data streams. Cybersecurity has evolved beyond merely preventing unauthorized access to IT systems; it now centers on dynamically managing access, rigorously ensuring data integrity, and verifying authenticity across distributed environments.

While hybrid systems introduce additional attack surfaces—spanning data transmission, storage, and platform access—they also offer significant cybersecurity advantages. Centralized cloud management facilitates automatic updates and patches that can be efficiently deployed across all connected edge devices. In their communication protocols, zero-trust models are rapidly gaining traction, advocating for:

Universal encryption for all data in transit and at rest.
Mandatory authentication for every connected device and user, regardless of location.
Multi-stage verification of footage, from initial capture through to long-term storage.

The shift towards hybrid systems also necessitates a new set of responsibilities for integrators. Their role now extends beyond hardware maintenance to encompassing overall system integrity, from initial installation to continuous security monitoring and ongoing compliance support.

4. Verticals and their cybersecurity needs

Cybersecurity risks within physical security systems vary considerably across different verticals, influenced by factors such as operational criticality, regulatory pressure, device density, and tolerance for downtime. Consider deployments where security devices are intertwined with operational technology (OT); here, even a minor breach of a security camera could potentially halt industrial production. The primary challenge lies in harnessing the benefits of interconnected systems while meticulously minimizing the connections that introduce vulnerabilities.

For deployments involving a diverse array of device classes—a common scenario in sectors like healthcare—it is imperative for integrators and operators to maintain complete and continuous visibility across the entire system. This holistic approach is crucial for identifying and mitigating risks effectively.

5. Threat scenarios and assessment

Artificial intelligence is profoundly reshaping the cybersecurity landscape. On one hand, malicious actors are leveraging AI to escalate the volume and sophistication of their attacks. On the other, security teams are increasingly relying on AI-powered tools to rapidly identify and neutralize these evolving threats.

The scenarios security teams must prepare for are shifting dramatically. Gone are the days of predominantly predictable IoT threats, typically centered on weak credentials, unpatched firmware, or exposed APIs. Today’s environment demands preparedness for adaptive, autonomous, and AI-powered attacks. This complex shift often necessitates specialized expertise to ensure that systems remain resilient and cybersecure against this new generation of threats.

Table of contents

1. What is cybersecurity in the context of physical security systems?

2. Regulatory regimens and certification

3. Cybersecurity for cloud devices

4. Verticals and their cybersecurity needs

5. Threat scenarios and assessment

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